A long time ago an Indian Monk from south-India (Kanchipuram) named as Bodhitara later came to be known as Bodhitara (Japanese know him as Daruma Taishi) traveled to China through the ways of Himalayas to China to spread Zen Buddhism. He visited to the emperor of Chinese dynasty who was spreading Buddhism by the way of building monuments, reciting sutras etc. The King asked him that "he is doing so much for Buddhism what Buddha will give him in return". On this Daruma replied "none". The king couldn't get the answer properly because in Zen Buddhism "a good deed done in return of a good favour is not a true deed". The King was angry on hearing the answer and immediately ordered Daruma to leave the dynasty.

While returning on its way back he came across a Shaolin monastery of China and he found that the monks of the monastery were growing weak and couldn't meditate due to the lack of physical activity neither were able to defend themselves from robbers, thieves etc. Bodhitara being from a Royal family was trained in Indian Martial Arts as well in Yoga. He also introduced a systematized set of exercises designed to strengthen the mind and body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the Shaolin style of temple boxing. Bodhidharma's teachings later became the basis for the majority of Chinese martial arts. Later Chinese developed this form into an excellent martial art known to us today as Shaolin Art of Fighting, Wu-Shu or Kung-Fu.

Grandmaster Kenwa Mabuni was born on 14th November 1889 in Shuri city of Okinawa. He belonged to the 17th generation from one of the bravest warriors of Ryukyu kingdom Kenio Oshiro. In the late 19th century the most famous grandmaster in Shuri was Yasutsune Itosu and in Naha the grandmaster was Kanryo Higaonna. Kenwa Mabuni was a student of both grandmasters and out of respect for his teachers named his style of Karate "Shito-Ryu".

HISTORY OF SHITO-RYU KARATE-DO & MASTER KENWA MABUNI (Founder)

Kenwa Mabuni concentrated more on Katas because he believed that Katas that combine both attack and defense techniques, are the most important part of Karate-Do, hence it is necessary to understand the meaning of each and every movement in the Kata and to perform the Kata correctly. The concept of the Bunkai and Hokei Kumite was first introduced by Kenwa Mabuni that explained the meaning behind the waza and showed the correct use for each Kata.

The proper Kata training also helps to explore the hidden techniques in Kata. This knowledge can be passed to the next generation through the means of Kata. Hence Kata is regarded as soul of Karate-Do training and according to Kenwa Mabuni the student, ignoring Kata and practicing only Kumite will never progress in Karate-Do and will never understand its meaning. Shito-Ryu has the maximum Kata then all other karate-do styles. After World War II Kenwa Mabuni helped to reconstruct Japan by devoting his life to the development of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. Unfortunately Kenwa Mabuni had no time to bring his dreams to reality since he died on May 23, 1952. Master Kenwa Mabuni left this noble art into the heart of every Shito-Ryu Karate-Do practitioner.

Later during the cultural exchange between China & Okinawa, many cultural activities were introduced in Okinawa and Chinese martial art was one of them. Okinawans blended this art of fighting with their native art know as "Tode" which was known as Karate as (Chinese Hand). Later Great teacher of Karate-Do Master Gichin Funakoshi named this art as Karate-Do.